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Gerwyn Price admits that there is added pressure on him in the Premier League on Thursday night as he plays in front of his own fans in Wales.
The Iceman takes on Daryl Gurney on Thursday night and is guaranteed a rapturous reception at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.
His status as the pantomime villain of the oche has died down a bit in recent months, but Cardiff has previously been his safe haven away from the boos, the only place he was sure to be well received.
The world number three had built up an army of fans around the world by now, and the boos are not quite so loud wherever he goes, and now he finds playing with the crowd on his side all the more pressurised.
‘Last year playing in Cardiff, I was having a lot of grief in all the other venues, so to go there and get cheered, which I wasn’t used to, it was nice and especially to get a win,’ Price told Metro.co.uk.
‘I think there’s probably a little bit more pressure on me this year to get a win as well. But I’m confident that I can.’
Price downed Michael Smith in the Welsh capital last year and will be trying to do the same against Daryl Gurney this week.
The Iceman is the hot favourite to win as Gurney is the only man to pick up two losses from two matches so far in the Premier League, while Price is undefeated with a pair of draws, against Smith and Rob Cross.
The Welshman holds an excellent record against the Northern Irishman, leading their head-to-head 9-3 with two draws.
The other Welshman in action in front of the home crowd is this week’s Challenger Jonny Clayton, who is taking on Smith in his one-off appearance in the competition.
Price is delighted for his Wales World Cup team-mate to get a crack in the competition and is glad they kept the two local boys apart.
‘I think it would have been a bit stupid to chuck me and Jonny in so they’d only get one game for the crowd. I think it’s probably better to be playing somebody else,’ said the Iceman.
‘I think it would have been wrong if anyone else had got it. Jamie [Lewis] has done well the last two years, had a good run in the Worlds a couple of years ago, but Jonny is probably more consistent.
‘He’s number two in Wales and if anyone else had got it, it would have been a bit disappointing.’
Premier League Week Three Fixtures
- Peter Wright vs Rob Cross
- Jonny Clayton vs Michael Smith
- Michael van Gerwen vs Nathan Aspinall
- Daryl Gurney vs Gerwyn Price
- Glen Durrant vs Gary Anderson
MORE: Wayne Warren hints at PDC switch after ‘gutting’ BDO prize money fiasco
MORE: Jonny Clayton not ready to give up the day job as Welshman becomes a Premier League plasterer
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